Chargers 27, Broncos 20: Peyton Manning wanted more rest. He got plenty last night because of a
San Diego defense that slowed Manning and handed the Broncos an unexpected loss.

Philip Rivers threw two touchdown passes to Keenan Allen and kept the Chargers’ offense on the
field for nearly 39 minutes in a stunner over the host Broncos, whose easy road to the AFC West
title and top seeding in the conference got an unexpected jolt.

The Broncos gained 13 yards on the 13 plays they ran after taking a 10-3 lead late in the first
quarter. That covered four fruitless drives during which they went three-and-out three times and
picked up a total of one first down.

Rivers finished 12 for 20 for 166 yards in improving to 28-6 in December. Ryan Matthews tied a
season high with 127 yards on 29 carries.

After Denver’s long dry spell on offense, San Diego led 24-10. The Broncos (11-3) made it 24-17,
and Manning got the ball on Denver’s 3 with 5:50 left. He moved the Broncos 30 yards in two plays
with the help of a penalty. But the Chargers (7-7) forced a bad throw, which linebacker Thomas
Keiser intercepted at Denver’s 33.

Manning’s final numbers were decent — 27 for 41 for 289 yards and two touchdowns as Denver lost
for the first time at home in 14 tries, dating to September 2012 against Houston.

Bears will start Cutler at QB against Browns

The Chicago Bears insisted all along that quarterback Jay Cutler would get his job back once he
was ready, no matter how well Josh McCown was playing.

They stuck to their word.

Coach Marc Trestman said Cutler will start on Sunday at Cleveland after missing four games
because of a high left ankle sprain.

Cutler worked with the receivers following Wednesday’s walkthrough. Trestman said there was no
swelling or any “residual issues” from that, and he was a full participant in practice
yesterday.

The news on linebacker Lance Briggs wasn’t quite as promising. He participated on a limited
basis and Trestman wasn’t optimistic about him returning this week, meaning he could miss his
seventh straight game because of a broken shoulder.

More injury news

• Linebacker James Harrison was one of three Bengals who missed practice yesterday because of
illness. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis missed a second day of practice, and linebacker Vontaze
Burfict also was held out.

• Arizona Cardinals rookie safety Tyrann Mathieu will have surgery today to repair torn
ligaments in his left knee. It is the first serious injury of Mathieu’s career, and he said he will
do his rehabilitation work in Arizona.